Whenever a significant awards ceremony approaches, there’s always a demand for introducing additional classifications to honor unsung work and delight the hearts of followers who have specialized interests.
Another commentator made the case advocating for terror-themed awards. That would rule. So would tabletop games, which is a dedicated supporter's campaign. Yet I need to apologize in advance if I try to elbow in front since similar to single-minded supporters, there's a strong justification for why my demand is the most urgent and significant. Here's the proposal: It's essential to create a category for puzzle games.
The Genre Classification Challenge
Organizing artistic expressions defies precise measurement; it remains highly personal, and typically start arguments concluding with vague boundaries. This explains why cinema institutions steer clear of genre categories. Yet it remains an essential concession within the realm of interactive entertainment, which are so diverse they barely qualify as a single art form.
For comprehensive acknowledgment of gaming accomplishments to receive acknowledgment, and for games of all stripes to have a chance for representation, classification by type becomes crucial.
Existing Game Classification System
Prominent interactive entertainment events currently feature classifications covering Action, Adventure-action titles, Role-Playing, Fighting, Sim/Strategy, plus athletic and racing experiences. Collectively, these classifications successfully include numerous genres, and you can find room for most games within them.
This doesn't apply to puzzle games. No suitable classification appears to put them. Examine these examples from this year’s best games, showing diverse approaches: the architectural riddles of one title, intense tile-matching in a different title, thought-provoking social scenarios of a third title. Where could they possibly go between these six categories? Nowhere, that’s where.
The Representation Problem
There are dozens of brilliant puzzle games published annually that have no home at major award shows, except when they manage to fit classification types such as Handheld titles, VR/AR Game, and the highly challenging Indie races.
- One classic puzzle game received no recognition completely in 2014
- A different innovative game received no nominations in 2019
- Well-received sorting experience received no acknowledgment recently
- Only a few logic titles barely qualified for small studio or handheld classifications
Importance of Logic Titles
Frequently they represent small games, but the art behind logic titles is of massive significance. Iconic mobile puzzle games count as most popular titles in the world continuing this trend for an extended period.
The iconic tile-matching title challenges popular creative games claiming status as best-selling game of all time; it also contends for best game of all time. Logic titles represent cornerstones to the art of video games, while interacting with diverse game types.
The Solution and Justification
Puzzle games wouldn’t have that issue. One could readily select multiple candidates with fascinating, diverse, deserving games annually without trouble — or rather, with difficulty, given the need to exclude numerous deserving experiences.
To emphasize again, these are games lacking appropriate categories during prominent ceremonies. Puzzle game makers function at the demanding boundary game development, developing some of most fundamental forms of gaming itself. Just like cinema stunt performers, they merit acknowledgment. Don't make them wait decades.
